Up until Saturday's win over Alabama A&M, Auburn's
secondary had gone nearly a full calendar year without making an interception,
363 days to be exact.

Then Trent Fisher got his hands on a Deaunte Mason pass with
2:38 left in Auburn's 51-7 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday and returned it 60
yards up the left sideline for the Tigers' first score by a defensive back
since Jermaine Whitehead's 25-yard interception against Florida Atlantic last
September.

"We actually made it a big deal this week," Fisher said.
"They've been giving us a hard time about the DB's not getting any, so it was
good to finally get one today."

Fisher started in place of Demetruce McNeal, Auburn's
leading tackler through the first 10 games despite only starting eight games.

McNeal had made 90 tackles despite barely playing in the
season-opener, but a weak game against Georgia left an opportunity open for
Fisher.

"We're looking for more production at that position," Auburn
head coach Gene Chizik said. "When we say we're looking for more production,
it's because there's a lot of things involved other than just tackling. That's
why we made the move."

The coaching staff didn't make its final decision until Friday,
but Fisher responded, making four tackles and the interception.

Ryan Smith, who hasn't played significant snaps since
starting the season-opener against Clemson, also made four tackles. McNeal
didn't enter the game on defense until late in the fourth quarter.

"I've been working my butt off, and I'm just thankful I got
to start," Fisher said. "We've been rotating all week, everybody."

Fisher's game left Auburn's coaching staff with a decision to make at free safety heading into next Saturday's Iron Bowl.

Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, after saying that Fisher made his fair share of mistakes on Saturday, declared the position an open competition among Fisher, McNeal and Smith heading into Iron Bowl week.

"I think we all know and they know the tackling has been an issue for us all year long," VanGorder said. "It’s a bottom-line business and you look to improve it, sometimes that’s a different player, sometimes that’s open competition and that’s where we are."